Each team could scoff at the AP poll debate that erupted last week when one voter tried to frivolously explain the way she decides on her rankings and the ensuing argument that — correctly — says the AP Top 25 doesn't matter (the CFP rankings are the ones that shape the bowl picture). South Carolina and Clemson could each justify it as the teams that aren't ranked could decide what they like among themselves while they enjoyed having numbers by their names.

Now they're each in the land of the have-nots.

The Gamecocks and Tigers departed the Associated Press Top 25 on Sept. 14 after losing the previous day, USC hammered 31-7 by Vanderbilt and Clemson falling on a buzzer-beating hurry-up 55-yard field goal at Georgia Tech. Neither are ranked going into Week 4.

USC plummeted from 11th to

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